You’ve been putting off calling us to find out if you need hearing aids, but you’ve finally decided it’s time. Like many other people, you’ve been resisting this. But the hassle, the lost moments, the missing conversations, they all finally became too hard to ignore.
So when you do finally come in and then you learn that you will still need to wait another couple of weeks before you get your custom fit hearing aids, it can be discouraging.
That’s another two weeks dealing with those lost moments before you can start getting them back. But you could try a basic little device add on known as a hearing aid dome instead.
What are hearing aid domes?
Doesn’t that sound sort of epic? Like some type of arena where hearing aids duel in ancient, mythical combat. Welcome to the Hearing Aid Dome: Two hearing aids enter…but only one leaves!
Well, it’s a bit less thrilling than that. They are pretty cool though. Hearing aid domes go on the end of your hearing aid speakers like small earbuds. Usually made out of silicone or plastic, they attach to the tubing of your hearing aid and fit on the part that goes into your ear canal. They’re made for behind-the-ear or inside-the-ear-canal models of hearing aids. Here are the two basic functions:
- They guarantee that the speaker of the hearing aid is seated in an ideal position in your ear. And they help keep the speaker in place. That way it’s not wiggling around.
- They can help limit the amount of outside sound you hear, especially when that external sound can interfere with the function of your hearing aid. When properly used, hearing aid domes give you some extra control and work to improve sound clarity.
Domes for hearing aids look kind of like those bulbs at the end of your earbuds. You will have to choose the hearing aid dome that’s ideal for you from a number of kinds, and we can assist you in doing that.
Different types of hearing aid domes
Open types and closed types each let in different levels of ambient sound.
Hearing aid dome models include:
Open Domes
These have holes in the dome that allow more natural sound to pass through and into your ears. This helps your ear process natural sounds while still getting the benefit of amplification.
Closed Domes
These domes let less outside sound in through fewer and smaller holes. For people with more severe hearing loss, ambient noise can be really distracting and this type of dome can help with that.
Power Domes
Power domes completely block the ear canal and have no holes. With these, almost no external sound can get in. These domes will be ideal for individuals with extremely severe hearing loss.
Do hearing aid domes need to be changed?
Every two to three months will be the best schedule for changing your hearing aid domes (your ears are not the dirtiest place, but they aren’t the cleanest, either).
Hearing aid domes can typically be worn right out of the box. That’s one of the greatest things about them.
How will I benefit by wearing hearing aid buds?
There are a number of reasons why hearing aid domes are popular. Here are a few prevailing benefits:
- No fitting time: Not having to wait is one of the greatest benefits of hearing aid domes. You can pop them in and use your hearing aid right away. This is a perfect solution for people who don’t want to wait weeks for custom fit hearing aids. And if you want to try out a hearing aid before you buy it, they’re good for that too. For people who want results faster, hearing aid domes can provide a way to accomplish that without sacrificing the quality of your sound clarity.
- Everything sounds a bit more natural: By choosing the correct hearing aid dome type, you can be certain that your hearing aids generate a natural overall sound and improved sound clarity. More than likely, some sound will still get in and that’s the reason for this. Again, this depends on the type of dome, and we will help you with this.
- Hearing aid domes can be more discrete: Hearing aid domes aren’t very big, particularly when they’re in your ear. They’re rather discrete in this way.
- You’re able to hear your own voice: A natural level of sound can get through some types of hearing aid domes. So you will still be capable of hearing your own voice. This makes the clarity of sound seem a lot more natural, which means you’re more likely to wear your hearing a great deal more often.
And, once again, this means many people are more likely to wear those hearing aids more often.
What are the downsides to hearing aid domes?
You’ll want to be aware of some of the downsides and trade-offs that come with hearing aid domes. Among the most common are the following:
- They aren’t always comfortable: Having something filling the ear canal can be extremely uncomfortable for some individuals. Hearing specialists call this sensation “occlusion,” and some people can find it intensely unpleasant. Also, your hearing aid dome can become stuck in your ear if you pull it out too fast or if you don’t keep it clean. You’ll most likely need to come in and see us to have it removed if this happens.
- Occasionally, they can cause feedback: Feedback, though not very common, sometimes does happen. For individuals who are dealing with high frequency hearing loss, this is especially true.
- Some types of hearing loss aren’t suitable for hearing aid domes: For example, if you are suffering from profound hearing loss or high frequency hearing loss, hearing aid domes might not be the preferred solution for you. For people with high-frequency hearing loss, once again, it’s the feedback that becomes the issue. It’s the hearing aid itself that’s an issue with profound hearing loss: the type of hearing aid typically associated with hearing aid domes is usually not large or powerful enough for this kind of hearing loss.
So are hearing aid domes for me?
Ultimately, the decision of whether you should use hearing aid domes or not is largely a personal one. It’s your choice but we can help. And we will be able to walk you through all the pros and cons pertaining to your personal hearing health.
Some people might be better off waiting for a custom fitting. Others will build healthy lifelong hearing habits by choosing a solution that allows them to start using their new hearing aids right away.
You’ve got options and that’s the nice thing.